The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority are planning an open house and an exploratory deconstruction tour of the Ramsey Homes in the Parker-Gray Historic District in Alexandria on February 9 & 10. Chapter members are invited to join City and ARHA staff to explore partially demolished walls to examine the historic precast structural system before complete demolition.

The four buildings at Ramsey Homes were originally constructed in a modernist design and built by the federal government for African-American defense workers in 1941. They are noteworthy examples of an early use of a precast concrete structural system using “Fabcrete” concrete panels. The deconstruction tours are being held as part of ongoing documentation and preservation efforts as part of the Section 106 process related to the redevelopment of the Ramsey Homes. Visit www.vhdllc.us for the full history report.

Self-guided tours are available on two dates: February 9, 2:00-4:00p and February 10, 2:00-4:00p. The Ramsey Homes are located on North Patrick Street, between Pendleton and Wythe Streets in Alexandria. Check-in first at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For questions about the tour, please email Cdickerson@arha.us

The tours are free and reservations are not necessary. 1 AIA HSW LU is offered. To obtain credit, be sure to sign the AIA Northern Virginia CE sheet onsite. For CE questions, email aianova@aianova.org.